U.S. Customs and Border Protection is hitting drug smugglers hard at the Northern border, with U.S. Border Patrol’s Detroit Sector leading all northern border sectors in drug seizures since 2019.
More than 100 million lethal doses of fentanyl were taken off U.S. streets last year due to tougher border security and a focused effort to cut off deadly drugs that have devastated American communities and families.
With the border secure, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has turned its attention to stopping the flow of potent fentanyl, illicit narcotics and drug precursors into the United States.
Federal officials announced the agency “reached a critical milestone” by seizing enough fentanyl to kill more than 100 million Americans. The drugs were intercepted at various points of entry along the southwest border in Fiscal Year 2026.
“CBP is keeping Americans SAFE,” the U.S. Department of Homeland Security shared on X. “Thank you to these heroes for keeping these deadly drugs off our streets.”
.@CBP is keeping Americans SAFE.
In fiscal year 2026, agents seized enough lethal doses of fentanyl at our southern border to kill more than 100 MILLION Americans.
Thank you to these heroes for keeping these deadly drugs off our streets. pic.twitter.com/1F2PSRwy6F
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 18, 2026
“Leading the way! Did you know @USBPChiefDTM has the most Border Patrol drug seizures along the Northern Border?” CBP shared on social media.
Leading the way!
Did you know @USBPChiefDTM has the most Border Patrol drug seizures along the Northern Border?
From fiscal year 2019 through March 31, 2026, Detroit Sector recorded 681 narcotics seizures — more than any other U.S. Border Patrol Northern Border sector. Detroit… pic.twitter.com/YQXjqILo0Z
— CBP (@CBP) May 13, 2026
According to CBP data, Detroit Sector agents averaged 150 narcotics seizures per year over the last two full fiscal years. This reflects “sustained and significant enforcement activity” across the Detroit Sector’s area of responsibility, which covers Michigan and Ohio.
From fiscal year 2019 through March 31, 2026, Detroit Sector recorded 681 narcotics seizures — more than any other sector along the U.S. border with Canada. There are eight Border Patrol sectors, protecting a combined 4,000 miles of border with Canada across 13 states.
“Ours is a challenging environment, with both narrow waterways and the expansive Great Lakes, as well as high traffic corridors near major population centers and transportation routes that are attractive to smuggling and criminal organizations,” said Detroit Sector’s Acting Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo Jr.
Detroit Sector also shared news of the drug busts, with Geronimo adding, “No matter the challenge, Detroit Sector agents continue to collaborate with our local, state and federal partners to safeguard our communities and uphold the security of the United States.”
In 2023, under the Biden Administration, fentanyl killed nearly 73,000 people due to overdoses — equivalent to a sold-out football stadium — while destroying multitudes of families, DHS said.
CBP’s Frontline Against Fentanyl webpage offers information on the devastating effects of fentanyl and how CBP is working to intercept it at points of entry. Smugglers are sophisticated, hiding illicit drugs in vehicles, batteries and body cavities.
In addition to fentanyl seizures, CBP has confiscated tens of thousands of pounds of other deadly drugs as well. In Fiscal Year 2026, CBP officers seized 152,000 pounds of methamphetamine, surpassing all of fiscal year 2025, and over 28,000 pounds of cocaine, surpassing fiscal year 2025 to date, DHS said.
